So, i figured that since my blog has just dropped off at random, I'd better throw something out there to update life in its current standing. As 98% of people know, I'm happily home in Pittsburgh trying to figure out the next step. I left the trail around 635 miles, and am very content with this decision. I had enough......hiking, trudging, mountains... for now = ) And, I intend to continue my travels at some point in the near future, move out, and figure out the direction i should head in - be it school or not. But, school is an option, that if working towards the right degree, appeals very much to me. But the trick is finding the right degree for me, not for the money.
Right now, I would like to ask for prayer. Prayer for a rejuvenation of Faith and a clarity of the present, as well as the future. Life is a confusing ball of decisions and directions, and when in the process of questioning the priorities and disillusionment of our society, and searching for truth, it is easy to get lost and misdirected. I hope that this blog can continue, even separate of travels, to be a place where i document my thoughts and discoveries and instigate in depth conversation. (I know very people actually read this = ], but it's more of a therapeutic venting device than anything else.) And, i would also like to clarify that the directness of my statements, and the intensity with which i present them is not meant to be taken as an attack or as me trying to teach anyone reading a lesson. It's just the thoughts of a person searching out the world, reevaluating instilled beliefs, and searching for truth and purpose.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
May 30th Partnership Shelter, Virginia
The future is a very uncertain thing as of the present. My mind floats around and around and the result of my wondering concludes on a plan even less conventional than the previous. I do not know the true direction of which I'm heading; however, the longer I'm out on trail the more i push the idea of college farther into the future. Although, as of a recent conclusion, I might end my adventure on the 1000mi mark at Harpers Ferry, WV. Money is one of the main issues that will insure this, but the idea brings about a great feeling of relief. I feel that i need a change of pace from hiking. The purpose of this trip went, somewhat from being a big bang before i bury myself in debt and escalated to being the first of many adventures to come. The next idea was to bike across New Zealand for a summer with my good friend Jordan, which is still high on the to do list, but in the meantime my mind has been fixating on the idea of creating a place to live. Not just any place to live, but a fully self sustaining tree house... in the unused woods on the southside slopes... and hopes of buying land legally. We shall see. But the brainstorming has resulted in many ideas that give me excitement at the thought. This is the kind of unconventional conclusions that I mentioned earlier. I don't know where my brain comes up with most of these thing, but it finds a way. Here's a bullet point list of my hopes for this house.
- Finding a way to buy a small plot of land from the city with ideal tree's and within a half mile from a road with parking.
- Building a one room 10 X 10 X 12ft living space with a loft bed, and futon.
- Making the house 10 - 15ft off the ground and finding ways to make it highly anti-theft.
- Buying a wood burning stove for the winter, and using a propane stove for cooking.
- Developing a gravity powered pump system from a stream up hill. (best case)
- Building a gutter- water filtration and purification system.
- Buying low end solar panels to run a light and an outlet for chargers
- A pulley system for moving water, furniture, and wood.
- Fully insulating the structure for maximum efficiency.
- And build a deck on another tree, bridging the two, and making the main access point from the deck.
- and eventually getting a contained firepit and a grill for the deck.
This will definitely take alot of time and saving, but after the situation of land is settled, I could probably build a livable structure within a month, and continue the work as i stay there.
-Ideal conditions would allow for a view of the city, a trail to a road where i could park my motorcycle, and best, best case would be a trail to southside. This is an idea that excites me even just thinking about it. I'll be sure to update you on the progress once i return home.
- Finding a way to buy a small plot of land from the city with ideal tree's and within a half mile from a road with parking.
- Building a one room 10 X 10 X 12ft living space with a loft bed, and futon.
- Making the house 10 - 15ft off the ground and finding ways to make it highly anti-theft.
- Buying a wood burning stove for the winter, and using a propane stove for cooking.
- Developing a gravity powered pump system from a stream up hill. (best case)
- Building a gutter- water filtration and purification system.
- Buying low end solar panels to run a light and an outlet for chargers
- A pulley system for moving water, furniture, and wood.
- Fully insulating the structure for maximum efficiency.
- And build a deck on another tree, bridging the two, and making the main access point from the deck.
- and eventually getting a contained firepit and a grill for the deck.
This will definitely take alot of time and saving, but after the situation of land is settled, I could probably build a livable structure within a month, and continue the work as i stay there.
-Ideal conditions would allow for a view of the city, a trail to a road where i could park my motorcycle, and best, best case would be a trail to southside. This is an idea that excites me even just thinking about it. I'll be sure to update you on the progress once i return home.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
May 25th, Damascus, Va. Returning to the trail.
Well, it's been a long time since I've even thought about blogging. It's something that, every time, I have to force myself to do, but am grateful when I'm done. But the past few weeks have been eventful to say the least. A couple weeks ago, I was at the beginning stages of shin splints and every step was mixed with a sharp pain in my leg. In addition, my heel was also giving me lots of trouble. This, mixed with homesickness and a strong desire to see my friends resulted in a spur of the moment bus ride back to Pittsburgh (18 awful hours to be exact.) It felt bizarre leaving trail, and even more so after 2 days of being home. It was a massive culture shock to be sure. But the visit was well worth it with tons of great times with friends. But even more difficult than coming home was coming back. Although I anticipated this outcome, it was still much harder than I had expected. I got sucked back into my old urban way of living after only being home for two days. Going from constantly available entertainment to silence, showers to filth and stank, Cars and motorcycles to boots, home cooked meals to ramen, and so forth is sometimes a refreshing transition, especially when one is city sick; but, going without for 5 weeks, and then suddenly having everything at once, for an extended period of time, and then not again is interesting. You try and hold on to the comforts. But, what you want is 90% of the time not what you need. And, I knew full well that i would be much happier and better off here than i would back home, so i kicked my butt back out into the wilderness once again.
It's been an interesting so far, and I'm slowly getting back into my groove, but there has been a little more backsliding than i had anticipated. When I had left the trail, we had just been presented with the easiest trail so far, and in turn, I flew through the miles and averaged 4mph through a good portion, which is basically jogging (which is why i injured myself.) But now that I'm back, in the same terrain, and intimately feeling every mile. My legs are healthy, and my injuries are gone for now, but my body is still recovering from two weeks rest, and so is my motivation. It's a very difficult, yet important lesson to learn to push yourself to do things (and not be forced by others) that you aren't ecstatic about at every moment of the day. I'm still learning this, but it's amazing where it takes you, and the hidden aspects of life that it opens up to you.
When it came time for me to leave for springer mountain at the end of March, the last thing that i wanted to do was follow through with my plan. It became overwhelming and almost ridiculous when i thought about it. I had this strange feeling that I was signing up for my own death. Not that i actually feared for my life considering the trip, it just felt as if i was giving up everything and everyone i loved; and, six months is a very very dim light at the end of the metaphoric tunnel if you're looking to go home the whole time. Thankfully, I pushed myself past my fears and wants, and so far it's been one of the most eye opening and monumental experiences of my life. The world has opened up to me, and I no longer feel bound by my hometown or by my current situation. All it takes is a day to completely change your environment and situation. It was amazing how quickly I was home, after deciding to take a small break. A complete change of environment, lifestyle, people, and experiences happened in a single day. And, just as quickly, here i am again, in a new town, in a new state. I know it seems that I'm pointlessly rambling, but these are simple concepts that i didn't truly understand before. I can change my situation and my path, and not just dream about it and think of "what could have been." It just takes a respectable amount of courage to take that first step. It's the same concept as a spouse continuously returning to her abusive husband. It's less love and more a fear of the unknown that bounds her, and it's the same for many people i know. They long to get out and see the world and change their degrading situation, but the unknown is terrifying. It is. It's seductive and exciting from a distance, but when the time comes to act on your dream, the dream is now a reality, and the struggles and complications that you minimized and replaced with the allure now become your minds main focus. FDR's famous lines, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Truth, truth, truth.
Anyways. I'm moving once again, at a slower pace. I did my first miles in Virginia yesterday and have around 550 left to go. I'm at mile 460 currently. The trail runs through the town and over the sidewalk right in front of this library. Pray that God guides me and works through this trip to produce much fruit for my future, and pray that I can acquire the funds to follow this trip to it's completion. As it appears now, it's very possible that i will run out of money well before Maine, but if this is the case, i will be content with however far God takes me; for this trip isn't to prove anything to anyone, it's about experiencing life and a small part of the world, and pushing myself towards growth and development. Whether i make it 1000, 1500, or 2186 I'm sure the result will be beautiful, and the remainder can be left to experience another year.
Much love to everyone back home. I felt extremely blessed by the amazing people that God has placed in my life upon returning home. You all are wonderful.
It's been an interesting so far, and I'm slowly getting back into my groove, but there has been a little more backsliding than i had anticipated. When I had left the trail, we had just been presented with the easiest trail so far, and in turn, I flew through the miles and averaged 4mph through a good portion, which is basically jogging (which is why i injured myself.) But now that I'm back, in the same terrain, and intimately feeling every mile. My legs are healthy, and my injuries are gone for now, but my body is still recovering from two weeks rest, and so is my motivation. It's a very difficult, yet important lesson to learn to push yourself to do things (and not be forced by others) that you aren't ecstatic about at every moment of the day. I'm still learning this, but it's amazing where it takes you, and the hidden aspects of life that it opens up to you.
When it came time for me to leave for springer mountain at the end of March, the last thing that i wanted to do was follow through with my plan. It became overwhelming and almost ridiculous when i thought about it. I had this strange feeling that I was signing up for my own death. Not that i actually feared for my life considering the trip, it just felt as if i was giving up everything and everyone i loved; and, six months is a very very dim light at the end of the metaphoric tunnel if you're looking to go home the whole time. Thankfully, I pushed myself past my fears and wants, and so far it's been one of the most eye opening and monumental experiences of my life. The world has opened up to me, and I no longer feel bound by my hometown or by my current situation. All it takes is a day to completely change your environment and situation. It was amazing how quickly I was home, after deciding to take a small break. A complete change of environment, lifestyle, people, and experiences happened in a single day. And, just as quickly, here i am again, in a new town, in a new state. I know it seems that I'm pointlessly rambling, but these are simple concepts that i didn't truly understand before. I can change my situation and my path, and not just dream about it and think of "what could have been." It just takes a respectable amount of courage to take that first step. It's the same concept as a spouse continuously returning to her abusive husband. It's less love and more a fear of the unknown that bounds her, and it's the same for many people i know. They long to get out and see the world and change their degrading situation, but the unknown is terrifying. It is. It's seductive and exciting from a distance, but when the time comes to act on your dream, the dream is now a reality, and the struggles and complications that you minimized and replaced with the allure now become your minds main focus. FDR's famous lines, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Truth, truth, truth.
Anyways. I'm moving once again, at a slower pace. I did my first miles in Virginia yesterday and have around 550 left to go. I'm at mile 460 currently. The trail runs through the town and over the sidewalk right in front of this library. Pray that God guides me and works through this trip to produce much fruit for my future, and pray that I can acquire the funds to follow this trip to it's completion. As it appears now, it's very possible that i will run out of money well before Maine, but if this is the case, i will be content with however far God takes me; for this trip isn't to prove anything to anyone, it's about experiencing life and a small part of the world, and pushing myself towards growth and development. Whether i make it 1000, 1500, or 2186 I'm sure the result will be beautiful, and the remainder can be left to experience another year.
Much love to everyone back home. I felt extremely blessed by the amazing people that God has placed in my life upon returning home. You all are wonderful.
Monday, April 25, 2011
4/25 Hot Springs, NC
274 miles from Springer.
19 days since my last entry. My initial intention with this blog and my journal was to share the majority of the significant events and experiences that I encounter along my way, but that has been much more difficult than i anticipated. My schedule goes as so: wake up, get water, make coffee, pack up camp, eat breakfast, and then head on the trail; Hike, snack, hike, snack, get to camp, get water, eat, make a fire, set up camp, hang bear bag, hang out with the boys, then sleep. On most days, this schedule is rushed due to 7 or 8 hours of fighting mountains. So when i roll into camp, the last possible thing that i want to do is write, especially after hiking alone all day. But I'm working on my will power, more and more each day.
Despite the monotony that this schedule sounds like, trail life is amazing, and very exhausting. But the thing that I have come to enjoy most is the camping aspect. Every night, we find a fresh new campsite, in a place that I've never been to before, on a mountain that I've never climbed or seen before. It's quite amazing actually. I'm a man without a home, or at least I carry it on my back. This whole ordeal still baffles me, and I still have certain moments where i realize what I'm doing and how far I've come already, but also how far I have yet to go. 273 miles is minuscule when charted on the AT map, but it still feels like a major accomplishment.
So in the past 2 and a half weeks since my last entry, too much has gone on to recount it all, but it's had it's ups and downs, it's frustrations and joys, and it's pains and comforts. There were quite a few days where i wondered why the hell i was out here, and where i cursed each mile that lay ahead. These thoughts usually come towards the beginning of a long climb or an 18 mile day (definitely not always, but some days can just be mentally painful.) But right on the other side of the spectrum, some days are so breathtaking that i wonder why normal life can't be more like trail life, or why so many people are scrambling to push into debt and materialism instead of experiencing the world. That's a thought that has been on my mind a lot recently. We are brought up through our school systems to crave the American Dream, and aren't shown any other options. You need to get a job that produces six figures that you'll end up loathing, to buy a car that's exciting for a week, and a house that's way too big, and to obtain comforts that only make you lazier, all to find 'happiness'. I'm not saying that I wont go back to school, but i need to find an occupation not for the money, but one that i love and can pour myself into. After all the majority of your life is spent working is it not? I just feel like people should be taught more often that life lived in the most seemingly unconventional ways can often be the most rewarding, and that there is a massive and beautiful world out there, and that it's meant to be experienced and admired.
This has just been an extremely eye opening experience for me so far, and i feel the travel bug burrowing itself within me. I want to see the world and experience life while I'm in my prime. I want to become an old man without any regrets, who feels as though he has truly lived.
Anyways, on a less dramatic note, the highlight of the past few weeks have been my journey through the Great Smokey Mountains. From Georgia up to the southern end of the park, the mountains all start to look the same, and each view blends together. So when I entered the Smokey's, I didn't expect much difference from the first section, but the Smokey's are something to be admired. The trail never goes below 5,000 feet in the Smokey's, and reaches up to 6,600 which is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail, at Clingman's Dome. the majority of the trail hopes from ridge line to ridge line. Some of the most spectacular sections in the Smokey's travel over ridge lines that are two feet wide with a several hundred foot drop on either side, and views into the valleys 5000 feet below you, and of the mountains beyond. Once you're in the Smokey's at elevation and look out into the endless cascade of towering mountains, there is a feeling that you are in a wilderness in one of it's rawest forms. But you can't help but feel microscopic when you're in the mountains looking out into the horizon. Who am I but a spec on this massive object, hurling through an incomprehensibly mammoth space? Foot travel absolutely puts a whole new meaning to size and distance. You don't quite understand the distance of a mile until you've hiked hundreds of them, and it's hard to understand how large the world is until you've spent a month hiking to have hardly covered a pinprick on the globe. Now when i get in a car, it's almost as if I'm traveling through time and fast forwarding hours of my day. I can't imagine how that feeling will be amplified once i reach Maine.
Rambling... cease.
I hope everyone is doing well back home.
Much Love, I miss you all very much.
Go travel = )
19 days since my last entry. My initial intention with this blog and my journal was to share the majority of the significant events and experiences that I encounter along my way, but that has been much more difficult than i anticipated. My schedule goes as so: wake up, get water, make coffee, pack up camp, eat breakfast, and then head on the trail; Hike, snack, hike, snack, get to camp, get water, eat, make a fire, set up camp, hang bear bag, hang out with the boys, then sleep. On most days, this schedule is rushed due to 7 or 8 hours of fighting mountains. So when i roll into camp, the last possible thing that i want to do is write, especially after hiking alone all day. But I'm working on my will power, more and more each day.
Despite the monotony that this schedule sounds like, trail life is amazing, and very exhausting. But the thing that I have come to enjoy most is the camping aspect. Every night, we find a fresh new campsite, in a place that I've never been to before, on a mountain that I've never climbed or seen before. It's quite amazing actually. I'm a man without a home, or at least I carry it on my back. This whole ordeal still baffles me, and I still have certain moments where i realize what I'm doing and how far I've come already, but also how far I have yet to go. 273 miles is minuscule when charted on the AT map, but it still feels like a major accomplishment.
So in the past 2 and a half weeks since my last entry, too much has gone on to recount it all, but it's had it's ups and downs, it's frustrations and joys, and it's pains and comforts. There were quite a few days where i wondered why the hell i was out here, and where i cursed each mile that lay ahead. These thoughts usually come towards the beginning of a long climb or an 18 mile day (definitely not always, but some days can just be mentally painful.) But right on the other side of the spectrum, some days are so breathtaking that i wonder why normal life can't be more like trail life, or why so many people are scrambling to push into debt and materialism instead of experiencing the world. That's a thought that has been on my mind a lot recently. We are brought up through our school systems to crave the American Dream, and aren't shown any other options. You need to get a job that produces six figures that you'll end up loathing, to buy a car that's exciting for a week, and a house that's way too big, and to obtain comforts that only make you lazier, all to find 'happiness'. I'm not saying that I wont go back to school, but i need to find an occupation not for the money, but one that i love and can pour myself into. After all the majority of your life is spent working is it not? I just feel like people should be taught more often that life lived in the most seemingly unconventional ways can often be the most rewarding, and that there is a massive and beautiful world out there, and that it's meant to be experienced and admired.
This has just been an extremely eye opening experience for me so far, and i feel the travel bug burrowing itself within me. I want to see the world and experience life while I'm in my prime. I want to become an old man without any regrets, who feels as though he has truly lived.
Anyways, on a less dramatic note, the highlight of the past few weeks have been my journey through the Great Smokey Mountains. From Georgia up to the southern end of the park, the mountains all start to look the same, and each view blends together. So when I entered the Smokey's, I didn't expect much difference from the first section, but the Smokey's are something to be admired. The trail never goes below 5,000 feet in the Smokey's, and reaches up to 6,600 which is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail, at Clingman's Dome. the majority of the trail hopes from ridge line to ridge line. Some of the most spectacular sections in the Smokey's travel over ridge lines that are two feet wide with a several hundred foot drop on either side, and views into the valleys 5000 feet below you, and of the mountains beyond. Once you're in the Smokey's at elevation and look out into the endless cascade of towering mountains, there is a feeling that you are in a wilderness in one of it's rawest forms. But you can't help but feel microscopic when you're in the mountains looking out into the horizon. Who am I but a spec on this massive object, hurling through an incomprehensibly mammoth space? Foot travel absolutely puts a whole new meaning to size and distance. You don't quite understand the distance of a mile until you've hiked hundreds of them, and it's hard to understand how large the world is until you've spent a month hiking to have hardly covered a pinprick on the globe. Now when i get in a car, it's almost as if I'm traveling through time and fast forwarding hours of my day. I can't imagine how that feeling will be amplified once i reach Maine.
Rambling... cease.
I hope everyone is doing well back home.
Much Love, I miss you all very much.
Go travel = )
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
3/6 Hiawassie
Day 9
The past three days have been intense. Me and the small group that i've been hiking with have been quickly upping our mileage from 7miles a day to 12 and 13, and needless to say, i've been feeling it. Each day i seem to get a new pain that gains a good amount of my concern. One of the worst things i can think of is being forced off trail for a knee or hip injury. The good thing is that with each day, a different part of my body hurts, and the previous pains subsides. I hope that cycle continues and i don't develope anything serious. But After a night in town and a short day of hiking ahead of me, my body is getting some of the rest it needs. I would appreciate it if you could keep my health in prayer, for thats my main concern right now.
Sometime tomorrow morning, I'll be passing out of Georgia, and putting a 79 mile section of the trail behind me. The passing of my first state border is something that i really look forward to, symbolizing my first small step towards completion. 13 states left.
After a little while a group of me and a few other guys almost formed itself. Lonliness was an aspect of this trip i really worried about; but, so far, i've hardly experienced any. I don't know how long we'll stick together, but it's been really encouraging to be in good company. Our group consists of me, Chef, Boxelder, Mel, and Milkman.
On an other note, two days ago we got word of a storm that was rolling in that night. So everyone aimed to get to the next shelter. When i arrived there were two more spaces but a group of girls were just behind me so i left my space to them. We set up our tents, did our camp chores and hung out for a while until the wind started to roll through the mountains. It just so happened that the shelter and campsite was on top of Tray Mountain, around 4,200 feet elevation. Not the best place to be during a major storm. Considering that i hadn't used this tent in the rain or extreme wind before, i was pretty concerned about how it would hold up. When the storm hit full force, i layed awake for hours picturing my rainfly being ripped off in the intense wind leaving me defenseless against the storm or my tent being blown off the mountain with me in it. Eventually i fell asleep amidst the tornadoe-esk wind beating blankets of rain against my tent, and the the crashes of lightening on surrounding mountain tops. When i awoke in the morning, i was dry but cold, and went outside to see my tent covered in a layer of ice and snow, along with the ground around me.
When i got to town that evening, i learned that what i feared happening to me, happened to Boxelder that night. he woke up at two in the morning in his tarp tent with everything, including his down sleeping bag drenched. (Down has no insulating properties when wet) Fearing hyporthermia he packed up all his things in the middle of the night, and hiked 11 miles, mostly in the dark, to the road crossing to Hiawassie that we were aiming for that day. Survival is a main theme here on the trail. Alot of your thoughts consist of how much food you have left, the next water source, how to stay warm, methods to keep away bears, and what you would do in an emergency such as that. It's an interesting change from the tamed and sometimes overly comfortable city life, to thinking of you own survival in the wilderness, days from the next town.
The past three days have been intense. Me and the small group that i've been hiking with have been quickly upping our mileage from 7miles a day to 12 and 13, and needless to say, i've been feeling it. Each day i seem to get a new pain that gains a good amount of my concern. One of the worst things i can think of is being forced off trail for a knee or hip injury. The good thing is that with each day, a different part of my body hurts, and the previous pains subsides. I hope that cycle continues and i don't develope anything serious. But After a night in town and a short day of hiking ahead of me, my body is getting some of the rest it needs. I would appreciate it if you could keep my health in prayer, for thats my main concern right now.
Sometime tomorrow morning, I'll be passing out of Georgia, and putting a 79 mile section of the trail behind me. The passing of my first state border is something that i really look forward to, symbolizing my first small step towards completion. 13 states left.
After a little while a group of me and a few other guys almost formed itself. Lonliness was an aspect of this trip i really worried about; but, so far, i've hardly experienced any. I don't know how long we'll stick together, but it's been really encouraging to be in good company. Our group consists of me, Chef, Boxelder, Mel, and Milkman.
On an other note, two days ago we got word of a storm that was rolling in that night. So everyone aimed to get to the next shelter. When i arrived there were two more spaces but a group of girls were just behind me so i left my space to them. We set up our tents, did our camp chores and hung out for a while until the wind started to roll through the mountains. It just so happened that the shelter and campsite was on top of Tray Mountain, around 4,200 feet elevation. Not the best place to be during a major storm. Considering that i hadn't used this tent in the rain or extreme wind before, i was pretty concerned about how it would hold up. When the storm hit full force, i layed awake for hours picturing my rainfly being ripped off in the intense wind leaving me defenseless against the storm or my tent being blown off the mountain with me in it. Eventually i fell asleep amidst the tornadoe-esk wind beating blankets of rain against my tent, and the the crashes of lightening on surrounding mountain tops. When i awoke in the morning, i was dry but cold, and went outside to see my tent covered in a layer of ice and snow, along with the ground around me.
When i got to town that evening, i learned that what i feared happening to me, happened to Boxelder that night. he woke up at two in the morning in his tarp tent with everything, including his down sleeping bag drenched. (Down has no insulating properties when wet) Fearing hyporthermia he packed up all his things in the middle of the night, and hiked 11 miles, mostly in the dark, to the road crossing to Hiawassie that we were aiming for that day. Survival is a main theme here on the trail. Alot of your thoughts consist of how much food you have left, the next water source, how to stay warm, methods to keep away bears, and what you would do in an emergency such as that. It's an interesting change from the tamed and sometimes overly comfortable city life, to thinking of you own survival in the wilderness, days from the next town.
4/3 Wolf Laurel Top
Day 6
Yesterday I stayed at Neels Gap for most of the day and waited for a buddy trail-named Chef to come down Blood Mountain. I met a ton of new people and eventually hiked on with Mel and Milkman five miles to a campsite on Wolf Laurel Mountain top. The view was absolutely amazing. We ate dinner as we watched the sun set over the mountains, and I got up early and ate breakfast as I watched the sun rise. God seems so present in the mountains, and His beauty is astounding. I'm discovering that it is in places like these, on an adventure like this, and with such an amazing community of people, that i feel most alive.
Yesterday I stayed at Neels Gap for most of the day and waited for a buddy trail-named Chef to come down Blood Mountain. I met a ton of new people and eventually hiked on with Mel and Milkman five miles to a campsite on Wolf Laurel Mountain top. The view was absolutely amazing. We ate dinner as we watched the sun set over the mountains, and I got up early and ate breakfast as I watched the sun rise. God seems so present in the mountains, and His beauty is astounding. I'm discovering that it is in places like these, on an adventure like this, and with such an amazing community of people, that i feel most alive.
4/1 Blood Mountain Cabins
Day 4
The past three days have been amazing, and have drastically soothed alot of my fears. I spent the second at a shelter with tons of interesting people, and hours upon hours of great conversation. With circumstances like this, an interesting bond is formed due to shared goals and exeriences, and as a result friends are made almost instantly. For example, tonight i rented a cabin with "boxelder" and a man named Charlie from London who i only met two hours before. For the better part of the night we talked about about His various travels throughout the world, His experiences with life, and argued a little over the topic of a Creator (God). Events so random, yet so rich with community and depth don't seem to occur so regularly in everyday life. From the small glimpse that i've had so far on the trail, I can't help but think this is what life should be like, and was intended to be like.
This trip so far has majorly exceeded my expectation. Although the terrain is intense, my body has been handling the mountains better than i had expected, and the scenery is amazing. I think I've seen more beautiful things in the last two days than i have in most of my life. Georgia is beautiful and so far, I've only seen 38 miles of it. But right now I'm just amazed that I'm here and have the opportunity to experience such wonderful and intense things. Even though alot of it is rough and overly exhausting, I feel truly alive and i can't wait to see where this period in life will take me.
I am truly thankful to be here.
The past three days have been amazing, and have drastically soothed alot of my fears. I spent the second at a shelter with tons of interesting people, and hours upon hours of great conversation. With circumstances like this, an interesting bond is formed due to shared goals and exeriences, and as a result friends are made almost instantly. For example, tonight i rented a cabin with "boxelder" and a man named Charlie from London who i only met two hours before. For the better part of the night we talked about about His various travels throughout the world, His experiences with life, and argued a little over the topic of a Creator (God). Events so random, yet so rich with community and depth don't seem to occur so regularly in everyday life. From the small glimpse that i've had so far on the trail, I can't help but think this is what life should be like, and was intended to be like.
This trip so far has majorly exceeded my expectation. Although the terrain is intense, my body has been handling the mountains better than i had expected, and the scenery is amazing. I think I've seen more beautiful things in the last two days than i have in most of my life. Georgia is beautiful and so far, I've only seen 38 miles of it. But right now I'm just amazed that I'm here and have the opportunity to experience such wonderful and intense things. Even though alot of it is rough and overly exhausting, I feel truly alive and i can't wait to see where this period in life will take me.
I am truly thankful to be here.
3/29 Springer Mountain Shelter
Day 1
It's Difficult to descibe the feelings brought about by such a monumental undertaking. Fear tends to consume a great deal of consciousness. For me, I have to deal heavily with the fear of failure. From all the way down here in Geaorgia, Maine seems almost like a thing of fairytale. I walked 8 miles today on the approach trail up Springer, and still 2,183 remain. What it really boils down to is patience, lots of it. Patience in dealing with the aches and pains that the mountains bring, patience in the midst of days of rain and cold, and patience in the face of lonliness and an ever distant goal. This all seems pretty dramatic, but the first night of such a drastic change in lifestyle leaves the mind occupied with overwhelming thoughts.
However, the potential this trip has for the good is endless, and i expect the changes i experience as a result will be beautiful. God has guided me towards this opportunity, and He will give me the strength and will necessary to follow through with it.
It's Difficult to descibe the feelings brought about by such a monumental undertaking. Fear tends to consume a great deal of consciousness. For me, I have to deal heavily with the fear of failure. From all the way down here in Geaorgia, Maine seems almost like a thing of fairytale. I walked 8 miles today on the approach trail up Springer, and still 2,183 remain. What it really boils down to is patience, lots of it. Patience in dealing with the aches and pains that the mountains bring, patience in the midst of days of rain and cold, and patience in the face of lonliness and an ever distant goal. This all seems pretty dramatic, but the first night of such a drastic change in lifestyle leaves the mind occupied with overwhelming thoughts.
However, the potential this trip has for the good is endless, and i expect the changes i experience as a result will be beautiful. God has guided me towards this opportunity, and He will give me the strength and will necessary to follow through with it.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
to Begin a Journey
On March 29, 2011, around 8 in the morning I'll be hiking the 9 mile approach trail to the southern terminus of the Appalachian trail on Springer Mountain in Georgia. This will be the start of my potential 6 month journey over 2,176 miles of wilderness, traversing through 14 states, starting with Georgia and ending in Maine. My naivety has been the death of many other (yet much smaller) dreams of mine, however I haven't had the luxury of ignorance with this one. Through months of research and planning, I have intimate knowledge of the challenges and obstacles I will meet on this trip; however, this is a dream that i feel I must pursue. In the months ahead, I will face extreme loneliness, a constantly aching body, persistent blisters, a 4X increase in appetite, straight weeks full of snow, rain and mud, mountain after mountain to surmount, and extreme battle of will to push on. Because of obstacles like these, the majority of the people who set out on the Appalachian Trail, with the same intent as me, turn around and go home. 15% of potential thru-hikers leave trail after the first three days, 35% leave within the first hundred miles, and approximately 35% leave before the halfway point. This leaves a mere 15% of the average 2000 potential thru-hikers that set out each year to reach Mount Katahdin, Maine.
At this stage in the planning process, while I prepare my food, gather the last of my gear, and get ready to face the goal I have set for myself, I am beginning to absorb the weight of those statistics, and understand the odds of fulfilling my dream. But although the odds are against me, I will do my best to remain positive, and trudge on as far as my will, legs, and money will take me; because, despite the difficulties that i will encounter, I am positive that as long as i persist and rely on God, the benefits will far outweigh the struggles in the end. This will be a time of self purification, exploration, experience, persistence, and witness to the beauty of God's creation.
----------
I would like to view all of you as my support team. I will experience times of great discouragement, and loneliness, where i will need the support of my friends and family to stay motivated and push on. Your prayers and support will be greatly appreciated over the coming months.
I will pass through towns every 2- 6 days on my journey, and at occasion i will have an opportunity to check this page and post updates of my experiences. Write on the wall, send me a message, and/or send a letter to my home (my wonderful Mother can send mail to certain post offices along the trail along with my food boxes.)
Pray that God will develop and strengthen me during this experience, and give me the will and persistence to stick it through to the end
Any form of support will be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
At this stage in the planning process, while I prepare my food, gather the last of my gear, and get ready to face the goal I have set for myself, I am beginning to absorb the weight of those statistics, and understand the odds of fulfilling my dream. But although the odds are against me, I will do my best to remain positive, and trudge on as far as my will, legs, and money will take me; because, despite the difficulties that i will encounter, I am positive that as long as i persist and rely on God, the benefits will far outweigh the struggles in the end. This will be a time of self purification, exploration, experience, persistence, and witness to the beauty of God's creation.
----------
I would like to view all of you as my support team. I will experience times of great discouragement, and loneliness, where i will need the support of my friends and family to stay motivated and push on. Your prayers and support will be greatly appreciated over the coming months.
I will pass through towns every 2- 6 days on my journey, and at occasion i will have an opportunity to check this page and post updates of my experiences. Write on the wall, send me a message, and/or send a letter to my home (my wonderful Mother can send mail to certain post offices along the trail along with my food boxes.)
Pray that God will develop and strengthen me during this experience, and give me the will and persistence to stick it through to the end
Any form of support will be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)